Strategies For Arguing

In Chapter 14, there are many ways (as explained) to argue and get your point across. In the first example, for Analogy in the use of arguments, Barack Obama is quoted saying "our destiny is stitched together like those 50 stars" as an example. This use of destiny like 50 stars in the united states flag offers an inspirational mood to the argument, making people feel more together and their dreams more achievable. It's easily a great way to get people on your side. Another argument tactic, classification, which is like going into greater depth of what dogs are by doing deeper into breed, variation, etc. Comparing and contrasting can go deeper, with two primary methods: block method and point by point. Block is comparing one, then the other separately. The example used in chapter 14 was comparing how men see their attractiveness and how women see their attractiveness. Point by point is mashing them both together and compare them each at a time, such as the comparison in childhood used in the book. It's also good to use definition in an argument to make sure the audience knows what side you're on if a topic or phrase is subject to many different interpretations. For description, Williams' description of the atomic bombs was effective because it put the audience at the site of where it all happened, causing more powerful emotions and opinions on the topic. Examples are also good, especially when you can use them to evoke emotions and sympathy from people. Steve Jobs experience with cancer in the chapter example to make his audience feel what he felt, which made his argument to do things before time runs out that much more effective. Humor is effective in arguments, especially for satirical news site The Onion for example had a post about a university cutting all academic funding to make room for their sports, obviously joking at their argument that the university in fact is a mess in the academic department because they focus too heavily on sports. Problem/Solution, a big one with writers gives the audience a way they can help with the problem posed (the argument). It's basically making the decision for them. Reiteration is also a good way to argue because it gets one point in people's heads and makes it memorable for them. a big example of this is Martin Luther King Jr.'s Speech "I Have A Dream". The reiteration of "I have a dream" stuck in people's minds for generations to come.